The Reality of Making a Living as a Guitarist: What Music Schools Don't Tell You
- Ivan Cardozo
- May 5
- 5 min read
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." — Epictetus
This Stoic principle perfectly captures the essence of a professional guitarist's journey. It reminds us that passion must be coupled with clear-eyed pragmatism and disciplined action. Before embarking on the path of music, one must honestly assess both what they wish to become and what sacrifices that choice demands.
Are you dreaming of becoming a professional guitarist in Boston or anywhere else in the world? Before you commit to that prestigious music school with its glossy brochures and promises of industry success, let's have an honest conversation about what it actually means to earn a living as a professional guitarist in today's music landscape.
The Classroom vs. The Field: A Stark Contrast
The controlled environment of music education offers structured learning, supportive teachers, and clear objectives. You practice Bach in climate-controlled rooms with excellent acoustics and supportive peers. Your professors offer constructive feedback focused on your artistic development.
The real world of professional guitar playing? It's rather different.
At Ivan Cardozo Guitar Studio in Boston, I believe in preparing guitarists for the actual profession, not just the romanticised version. While music schools excel at teaching technique and theory, they often gloss over the harsh realities of the industry.
The Great Music School Illusion
Many prestigious music institutions in Boston and beyond have mastered an enticing sales pitch: "Pay our tuition, get our degree, and the music industry will welcome you with open arms." This narrative drives enrolment but rarely matches reality.
The painful truth? A music degree—even from a renowned conservatory—offers no guarantee of employment. Unlike fields such as medicine or law where qualifications directly correlate to job opportunities, the music industry operates on different principles entirely.
The Real Factors Behind Musical Success
In popular music especially, academic credentials often play a subordinate role to factors like:
Who you know: Networking surpass your grade point average nearly every time
Being in the right place at the right time: Opportunity doesn't follow academic calendars
Getting lucky: Even brilliant musicians sometimes need fortunate breaks
Persistence: The willingness to keep going despite countless rejections
Adaptability: The ability to play various styles and work in diverse environments
Music as a Vocation: Beyond Money and Fame
At the core of sustainable musical careers lies an uncomfortable truth: the study of music is fundamentally a vocation—a calling—rather than a reliable path to wealth and celebrity.
Those who endure and find satisfaction in music careers typically do so because they simply cannot imagine doing anything else. The intrinsic rewards—the joy of performance, the connection with audiences, the service to the art form—sustain them through the inevitable hardships.
The Graduate's Dilemma: Debt vs. Reality
A sobering reality awaits many music graduates: working in completely unrelated fields to manage the substantial student loans they accumulated. The financial calculations that seemed reasonable ("I'll easily repay this once I'm established") collide with industry economics that haven't supported most musicians since the 1970s.
In Boston, I regularly encounter former music students now working in retail, food service, or corporate settings, their instruments gathering dust while they pay off degrees that promised much more.
Playing What Pays, Not What You Love
Professional musicians rarely enjoy the luxury of selectivity. The romantic notion of only playing music you're passionate about quickly yields to practical necessity.
A working guitarist must be prepared to play:
Cover songs they secretly dislike
Styles outside their preference
Simplified versions of complex music
The same popular songs thousands of times
The guitarist who insists on artistic purity alone often finds themselves with artistic integrity intact but no means to pay rent.
The Unpredictable Workplace
Forget the image of glamorous concert halls and recording studios. The professional guitarist's workplace is wherever someone will pay them to play. This includes:
Dingy pubs with poor acoustics
Restaurants where diners talk over your playing
Gentleman's clubs with questionable clientele
Hotel lobbies where you're essentially background noise
Corporate events playing the same five songs on repeat
Wedding receptions where drunk guests make inappropriate requests
Children's parties with chaotic environments
Religious ceremonies for faiths not your own
Divorce parties (yes, these exist)
Cruise ships where you're contracted for months at sea
Here in Boston, the range of venues varies enormously, from prestigious concert halls to noisy bars in Faneuil Hall where tourists barely notice your performance.
The Feast or Famine Financial Reality
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of guitar as a profession is financial instability. Unlike salaried positions, musicians rarely know when the next paycheque is coming.
This reality necessitates:
Never turning down paying work, regardless of circumstances
Accepting last-minute gigs that disrupt personal plans
Working holidays and weekends when others are relaxing
Managing taxes as a self-employed professional
Operating without health insurance or retirement benefits
Maintaining and repairing expensive equipment
Funding your own professional development
The Boston Musician's Reality
In our city, with its rich musical heritage and numerous educational institutions, the competition for paying gigs is fierce. Most professional guitarists I know in Boston:
Hold "day jobs" to ensure stable income
Teach private lessons to supplement performance work
Play in multiple bands across diverse genres
Travel extensively for work opportunities
Accept gigs that pay less than they did decades ago
Struggle with the city's high cost of living
Network constantly to maintain visibility
Maintain a digital presence across multiple platforms
The Critical Importance of Financial Discipline
For those determined to pursue guitar professionally, financial management becomes as important as musical skill. Living below one's means isn't just advisable—it's essential.
The savvy professional guitarist:
Maintains substantial emergency savings
Avoids lifestyle inflation during prosperous periods
Invests in equipment that maintains value
Develops multiple income streams
Budgets for inevitable slow periods
Plans for retirement independently
Minimises debt obligations
Cultivates skills transferable to related fields
Finding Balance and Sustainability
Despite these challenges, making a living as a guitarist remains possible for those with talent, business acumen, adaptability, and realistic expectations.
At Ivan Cardozo Guitar Studio in Boston, I emphasise not just musical excellence but professional sustainability. My approach acknowledges the realities while providing strategies for navigating them successfully.
Is It Worth It?
Even with these sobering realities, many still find immense fulfillment in guitar careers. The joy of creating music, touching audiences, and living a life immersed in your passion offers rewards that transcend financial metrics.
The question isn't whether pursuing guitar professionally is "worth it" in universal terms, but whether you're prepared for both its rewards and challenges.
Taking the Next Step: Learn with a Realistic Perspective
If you're in Boston and serious about developing your guitar skills with professional guidance that acknowledges industry realities, in my Guitar Studio offer:
Private lessons tailored to your goals
Professional development coaching
Industry navigation strategies
Performance opportunities
Online lessons for students worldwide
Ready to develop your guitar skills with honest professional guidance?
Visit ivancardozo.com to learn more about my teaching philosophy
Book a consultation lesson to discuss your specific goals
Don't let the challenges deter you if music is truly your calling—just approach the journey with open eyes and proper preparation.
Contact me today to begin your guitar journey with realistic professional guidance.
Comments